Lavandula plant named ‘LAMPU31-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavandula  cultivar named ‘LAMPU31-0’ is disclosed, characterized by long inflorescences composed of light purple infertile bracts and dark purple flowers. Plants begin flowering and are distinctively upright in habit and resist lodging. The new variety is a  Lavandula , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lavandula stoechas.

Variety denomination: ‘LAMPU31-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, JohnRobb, in New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breedingprogram was to produce new Lavender varieties for ornamental commercialapplications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety wasmade during October of 2009.

The seed parent is Lavandula ‘Bee Brilliant’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,614. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollinationbreeding program, using several proprietary pollen parents. The newvariety was discovered in October of 2011 by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from the 2009 crossing, in a research greenhouse inNew South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativeterminal cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse inNew South Wales, Australia during January of 2012 and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to typein at least 4 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LAMPU31-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LAMPU31-0’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LAMPU31-0’ as a new and distinct Lavandulacultivar:

-   -   1. Early flowering.    -   2. Long infertile bracts.    -   3. Upright plant form.    -   4. Strong plant habit, resists lodging.    -   5. Dark purple fertile flowers and lighter purple infertile        bracts.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LAMPU31-0’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Lavandula stoechas ‘Bee Brilliant’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘LAMPU31-0’ differin the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces lighter purple infertile bracts.    -   2. The infertile bracts of the new variety are longer and less        undulating than those of the seed parent.    -   3. Plant habit of the new variety is more upright.    -   4. The new variety is a stronger plant, resisting lodging better        than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LAMPU31-0’ are comparable to the varietyLavandula ‘Voodoo’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,739. The two Lavandulavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘LAMPU31-0’ differs in producing shorter infertilebracts, which are held upright, not at a wider angle. Peduncles of thenew variety are shorter. Additionally plants of ‘LAMPU31-0’ are shorterand more upright than this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LAMPU31-0’ are comparable to the varietyLavandula ‘Larkman Bee’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,840. The two Lavandulavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘LAMPU31-0’ differs in producing longer infertilebracts. Additionally plants of ‘LAMPU31-0’ are more upright than thiscomparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LAMPU31-0’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Lavandula ‘Larkman Hazel’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,894.These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristicshowever, the new variety ‘LAMPU31-0’ differs in producing longer overallinflorescence, shorter infertile bracts, shorter peduncles than thecomparator. Additionally plants of ‘LAMPU31-0’ are more upright than thecomparator and produce more inflorescence per plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘LAMPU31-0’ grown outdoors in Santa Paula, Calif. The prominent plant inthe foreground, with light purple bracts is ‘LAMPU31-0’. Age of theplant photographed is approximately 40 weeks from a rooted cutting. Thephotograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘LAMPU31-0’ plants grown outdoors during,Winter and Spring in Santa Paula, Calif. The growing temperature rangedfrom 10° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 25° C. during thenight. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘LAMPU31-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 25 to 35 days at 21° C.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 9 months from an unrooted    cutting.-   Plant spread: Approximately 35 cm.-   Plant height: Approximately 46 cm, to top of flowering plane.    Approximately 27 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 17 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.35 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 30.-   Plant habit: Moderately dense, upright.-   Stem:    -   -   Juvenile color.—Near Greyed-Yellow 160C, ridges striped            Green 143B, irregular flush near Greyed-Purple 187A.        -   Mature color.—Near Brown 200C, with oldest woody stems also            Brown 200C.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.-   Internode length: Average 1.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—2 large opposite leaves at each node.        -   Leaf type.—Simple.        -   Quantity.—Average 18 fully expanded per main branch.        -   Average length.—Average 2.9 (mature foliage).        -   Average width.—Average 0.35 cm. (mature foliage).        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of all surfaces.—Puberbulent.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Moderately strong Lavender scent.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138C. Young            foliage under side: Near Green RHS 138B. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage under side:            Near Green 138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Venation color upper side:            Indistinguishable from foliage color. Venation color under            side: Near Green 138B.        -   Petiole.—Absent.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Main flush during Spring. Lesser quantities of flowers    produced throughout Summer and Fall. During peak flowering total    inflorescence quantity between 70 and 100 per plant.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Small single flower in verticillasters arranged in            spikes. Most commonly 8 rows of flowers. Infrequently 6 or            10 rows. Flowers have small bracts, and large showy terminal            bracts. Number of individual flowers per spike: Average 80.            Fragrance: Very strong lavender scent. Corolla shape:            Salverform. Petal Number: 5. Petals Fused or Unfused: Fused            at base. Petal Shape: Top 2 lobes obovate, lower 3 lobes            ovate. Petal Margin: Entire. Petal Surfaces: Glabrous.            Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. (corolla tube and petals).            Diameter: Approximately 0.5 cm at widest opening of petals.        -   Inflorescence size, excluding terminal bracts.—Length:            Approximately 4.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.7 cm. Shape:            Cylindrical. Coloration of individual flowers, excluding            terminal bracts: Immature: Near Violet-Blue N92B. Mature:            Near Violet-Blue N89A, but darker. Fading: Near            Greyed-Purple N186. Calyx Width: 0.3 cm. Calyx Length:            0.5 cm. Calyx Shape: Flattened tube. Calyx color: RHS            Greyed-Green 191A flushed Violet-Blue N92A. Bract shape:            Deltoid. Bract apex: Acute. Bract Color: Lower Surface: Near            Yellow-Green 145C , with apex colored Violet-Blue N92A.            Upper Surface: Near Yellow-Green 145C , with apex colored            Violet-Blue N92A.-   Terminal bracts (sterile):    -   -   Quantity.—4 per inflorescence.-   Large bracts:    -   -   Attitude and angle of attachment.—Bracts arising at            approximately 15 degree angle from the top of the            inflorescence.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Form.—Petaloid.        -   Margin.—Entire and slightly undulating.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Vein pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Duration on plant.—Approximately 12 weeks, with good color.            Persistent.        -   Color.—Upper side of immature bract: Near RHS Purple-Violet            N82D, veins 83B. Under side of immature bract: Near RHS            Purple-Violet N82C, veins 83B. Upper side of mature bract:            Near RHS Purple-Violet N82B, veins 83B. Under side of mature            bract: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A, veins 83B. Bract color            fading to: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A, veins 83B.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—Near RHS Near Violet-Blue N92B.        -   Rate of opening.—Varies with climactic conditions;            Approximately 1 week from colored bud to open flower.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Average range approximately 2.5 to 6 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Straight to slightly undulating.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium: Extremely reduced, frequently not present.    -   -   Stamens.—4.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.5 mm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS White N155A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Pollen production not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS White            N155A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Globular. Color: Near RHS Violet-Blue N92A.            Ovary: Minute and immeasurable.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Seed production not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Lavandula stoechas. has been    observed.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Hardy perennial. Tolerates    high temperature to at least 32° C. Tolerates low temperatures to    −5° C. While specific drought tolerance has not been observed, once    plants are established very little water is necessary to maintain    plants.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plantnamed ‘LAMPU31-0’ as herein illustrated and described.